East Carolina

[waterhead]

Playing to the crowd. Gesturing after 3s. Wow. These are all things none of use have ever seen before on a basketball court. It's like Nick Van Exel and Steve Logan never existed.

Seriously though...I've never minded a bit of that if it's done with a purpose. Troy has been asked to be the leader of the team and I'm sure he is trying to get some of his more sedate teammates into the game. Some of you might disagree but I was happy to see a little swagger from someone.

Revving up the crowd is one thing. Showboating is completely different.

Standing still with your arms in the air motioning to the crowd while play continues is showboating. Flexing your muscles to the crowd after a dunk while the other team is heading the other way with the basketball is showboating. Chest bumping with teammates or waving to the crowd to get on their feet (as long as you're still focused on what you're supposed to be doing) is another.

I don't mind celebrating great plays...heck I encourage it. When it's done properly it works. When celebrating leads to a technical or a loss of concentration...it can cancel out whatever good just happened.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Bottom line is we saw a young team that did not respond well to some success. I think they have learned from it and I don't think they will take another team lightly again. Let's move on to SMU.

 

[cincycpaw]

I think we need to trust the coaches decision on benching troy.

Why? He made plenty of bad decisions the other day and this was just the first. Don't need to trust his judgement there. Everyone has a bad day and Coach Davis certainly had one.

 

[Amberlycolonel]

Benching TC was Cronin's call and it was the right one to make. I would have sat him a lot longer. The last thing this team wants is another Mark Lyons in town. I applaud Cronin for making it.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Why? He made plenty of bad decisions the other day and this was just the first. Don't need to trust his judgement there. Everyone has a bad day and Coach Davis certainly had one.

Disciplining caupain was a singular act. You want to question his and micks game plan and his subbing players that's fine. When a coach disciplines a player I trust his judgement to do so. I'm as upset as anyone that we lost but this team should've beaten them regardless of who started and the fact that caupain played like he did furthers to me that he hasn't taken that next step and that his benching was warranted.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Benching TC was Cronin's call and it was the right one to make. I would have sat him a lot longer. The last thing this team wants is another Mark Lyons in town. I applaud Cronin for making it.

I agree. I think the message he wanted to send was sent by taking him out of starting lineup. Mick has said plenty of times that the only way a player will learn sometimes is to take his pt away. And like i said earlier, we dont know what went on between caupain and the staff after the game and leading up to sundays game. I'm not upset at all he didn't start, I am upset at how he reacted to not starting. Will be interesting to see if he starts thursday.

 

[waterhead]

I agree. I think the message he wanted to send was sent by taking him out of starting lineup. Mick has said plenty of times that the only way a player will learn sometimes is to take his pt away. And like i said earlier, we dont know what went on between caupain and the staff after the game and leading up to sundays game. I'm not upset at all he didn't start, I am upset at how he reacted to not starting. Will be interesting to see if he starts thursday.

I wouldn't doubt one bit if he doesn't start the next game or more. If he wasn't giving a good effort in response to benching...it won't sit well with Cronin or Davis.

 

[UCalum08]

I wouldn't doubt one bit if he doesn't start the next game or more. If he wasn't giving a good effort in response to benching...it won't sit well with Cronin or Davis.

Exactly. Quite frankly the coaches own that right to bench Troy and any other player. Its troys fault for his attitude and lack of involvement during Sundays game. He is young so it is what it is, chalk it up to a learning experience I suppose. It was really disappointing to see Troy respond the way he did. I would have thought he would want to come off the bench and prove coaches wrong and show that he is a leader. But he completely failed to do so. That's the most disappointing thing that came from it.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Benching TC was Cronin's call and it was the right one to make. I would have sat him a lot longer. The last thing this team wants is another Mark Lyons in town. I applaud Cronin for making it.

On the radio show, Mick just said that it was LD's decision. He said he supports it and would've done the same thing.

 

[Doogle]

There had to have been something other than the techs. If not then I couldn't disagree with the decision more.

Some players, you live with a few personality quirks. Not that Troy has consistently shown any ostentatious playing for the crowd but if it gives you 20 pt games and some leadership then you take a little bad to get the benefit. Huggins gave guys like Van Exel all kinds of leeway with the trash talk and the occasional bad shot because he knew trying to reign them in and make them a certain type of player could have adverse affect on their game. Let's not pretend that players don't get treated differently. Certain players have more responsibilities than others. Some players are ridden harder, some players are coddled a little more. It's part of the job of a coach to know which players need a pat on the back and which ones can take more criticism.

If Troy recoiled from discipline he felt was unwarranted...then that should be just as much a lesson for the coaches as it is for the kid. Maybe Troy should toughen up a bit. And maybe the coaching staff could've said "hey Troy, nice game. Love the fire. Just know the situation and how valuable you are next time you're in that spot...we trust you to make the adjustment next time". To say that Troy is the type of kid that warranted this kind of punishment...I haven't seen any inkling of habitual bad behavior.

And for those who think all players should be treated equally - explain to me why Ellis hasn't been pulled from the starting lineup or had playing time reduced for some of the shenanigans he's pulled this season.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

There had to have been something other than the techs. If not then I couldn't disagree with the decision more.

Some players, you live with a few personality quirks. Not that Troy has consistently shown any ostentatious playing for the crowd but if it gives you 20 pt games and some leadership then you take a little bad to get the benefit. Huggins gave guys like Van Exel all kinds of leeway with the trash talk and the occasional bad shot because he knew trying to reign them in and make them a certain type of player could have adverse affect on their game. Let's not pretend that players don't get treated differently. Certain players have more responsibilities than others. Some players are ridden harder, some players are coddled a little more. It's part of the job of a coach to know which players need a pat on the back and which ones can take more criticism.

If Troy recoiled from discipline he felt was unwarranted...then that should be just as much a lesson for the coaches as it is for the kid. Maybe Troy should toughen up a bit. And maybe the coaching staff could've said "hey Troy, nice game. Love the fire. Just know the situation and how valuable you are next time you're in that spot...we trust you to make the adjustment next time". To say that Troy is the type of kid that warranted this kind of punishment...I haven't seen any inkling of habitual bad behavior.

And for those who think all players should be treated equally - explain to me why Ellis hasn't been pulled from the starting lineup or had playing time reduced for some of the shenanigans he's pulled this season.

I definitely got the impression that it was more than the technicals. Obviously Mick isn't going to go into great detail about everything happening behind closed doors, but he made it clear that he thought Davis did the right thing. When taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, you'd have to assume the guys who have been coaching as long as Troy has been alive, have an idea of what is best in the given situation over the 19 year old kid (and how Troy played proves that imo). And earlier in the show when talking about the game, Mick was saying that we thought we were too cool for school and had this coming. He said some of the guys were more worried about people on Twitter telling them how good they are, than getting ready to grind out a conference win. I don't follow Caupain on Twitter, but after that UConn game I wouldn't be surprised if he waas one of the ones doing that. In the long run, I'd have to trust that the coaches know Troy enough to know how to get his mind right. It hurt us bad in 1 game so far, here's to hoping it will pay off later.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Rumor on 247 was he was late for some team related event. Take it FWIW.

 

[Doogle]

I definitely got the impression that it was more than the technicals. Obviously Mick isn't going to go into great detail about everything happening behind closed doors, but he made it clear that he thought Davis did the right thing. When taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, you'd have to assume the guys who have been coaching as long as Troy has been alive, have an idea of what is best in the given situation over the 19 year old kid (and how Troy played proves that imo). And earlier in the show when talking about the game, Mick was saying that we thought we were too cool for school and had this coming. He said some of the guys were more worried about people on Twitter telling them how good they are, than getting ready to grind out a conference win. I don't follow Caupain on Twitter, but after that UConn game I wouldn't be surprised if he waas one of the ones doing that. In the long run, I'd have to trust that the coaches know Troy enough to know how to get his mind right. It hurt us bad in 1 game so far, here's to hoping it will pay off later.

Here's hoping the ECU loss (and the UConn loss to Houston) woke the team up to the realities of college basketball. The name on the front of the jersey guarantees nothing more than the opposition's best effort.

 

[Doogle]

Rumor on 247 was he was late for some team related event. Take it FWIW.

If that's the case, then by all means he deserves what he got. And his poor play Sunday only made it worse. He has a ton of growing up to do regardless.

 

[UCalum08]

I definitely got the impression that it was more than the technicals. Obviously Mick isn't going to go into great detail about everything happening behind closed doors, but he made it clear that he thought Davis did the right thing. When taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, you'd have to assume the guys who have been coaching as long as Troy has been alive, have an idea of what is best in the given situation over the 19 year old kid (and how Troy played proves that imo). And earlier in the show when talking about the game, Mick was saying that we thought we were too cool for school and had this coming. He said some of the guys were more worried about people on Twitter telling them how good they are, than getting ready to grind out a conference win. I don't follow Caupain on Twitter, but after that UConn game I wouldn't be surprised if he waas one of the ones doing that. In the long run, I'd have to trust that the coaches know Troy enough to know how to get his mind right. It hurt us bad in 1 game so far, here's to hoping it will pay off later.

How many times have we heard that before? Almost every team in the last 5-6 yrs except last years team has this issue. Players get a little success, get a big head, drink the kool aide and think they will win by just showing up. I thought SK and JJ established a better culture to nix that thinking. But I guess with so many youngins on the squad and no real player leadership they quickly forgot what it takes to win.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

How many times have we heard that before? Almost every team in the last 5-6 yrs except last years team has this issue. Players get a little success, get a big head, drink the kool aide and think they will win by just showing up. I thought SK and JJ established a better culture to nix that thinking. But I guess with so many youngins on the squad and no real player leadership they quickly forgot what it takes to win.

This year's team definitely gives me a new appreciation for our 15 game winning streak last year.

One last thing I'm still unsure about...Why was Troy allowed to do the postgame press conference after getting ejected? I know Chad said that the media asks to talk to the players, but it seems like the coaches could've told them to pick someone else. I see that press conference as a reward. And having a 19 year old kid up there immediately after the game kind of downplays the significance of getting kicked out imo. Maybe I'm digging to deep, but I'm not sure about the message that sends.

 

[Weez1414]

Well if you are serious you should study the game more. Im guessing your joking. Anyhow once again their scoring capabilities are some of the worst in college hoops. I refuse to call that offense. If you cant score in the last almost 4 mins of a game you are winning especially by FT's then the BB IQ of this whole team, players and coaches, is in severe question. Also not only did they not score but their VAUNTED defense gave up 11 in that stretch. Very tired of hearing about defense. You cant shut someone out in BB. Well maybe except the CATS lackluster O. ( THATS AS CLOSE AS IM GETTING TO CALLING IT OFFENSE)

 

[#BearcatNation]

Well if you are serious you should study the game more. Im guessing your joking. Anyhow once again their scoring capabilities are some of the worst in college hoops. I refuse to call that offense. If you cant score in the last almost 4 mins of a game you are winning especially by FT's then the BB IQ of this whole team, players and coaches, is in severe question. Also not only did they not score but their VAUNTED defense gave up 11 in that stretch. Very tired of hearing about defense. You cant shut someone out in BB. Well maybe except the CATS lackluster O. ( THATS AS CLOSE AS IM GETTING TO CALLING IT OFFENSE)

What.

 

[UCalum08]

This year's team definitely gives me a new appreciation for our 15 game winning streak last year.

One last thing I'm still unsure about...Why was Troy allowed to do the postgame press conference after getting ejected? I know Chad said that the media asks to talk to the players, but it seems like the coaches could've told them to pick someone else. I see that press conference as a reward. And having a 19 year old kid up there immediately after the game kind of downplays the significance of getting kicked out imo. Maybe I'm digging to deep, but I'm not sure about the message that sends.

I thought the exact same thing. With that being said it def. seems like Troy did something after the UConn game that warranted his benching.